The Apponequet Regional High School Class of 2014 president had to welcome the overflow crowd at Griffith Field, give her speech and read off the names of the graduates.

But when she saw her white cap and gown, it hit her.

“Once I saw the gown, this was, like, actually graduating,” she said while awaiting the call to line up and march onto the football field. “We’re not practicing in the gym. This is for real.”

Standing with her close friends Jacqueline Connor, the class vice president, and Bethany McMeekin, the trio became nostalgic as they recounted events that took place over the past four years.

“As soon as the music plays, it’ll hit me,” Connor said of the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” that signaled the start of the ceremony.

Apponequet Principal Barbara Starkie praised the class of 214 graduates for its “resilience” which she said carried them through “four schedules, three principals ... three superintendents, three assistant principals and approximately — wait for it — 50 new staff members in and out of Apponequet since your arrival.”

Starkie also remembered Brandyn Fiola, a member of the Class of 2014, who died suddenly in January. He transferred to Apponequet from Durfee High School in Fall River for his senior year.

Kayla Chernecky presented the charge to the class and urged her classmates to cherish the bonds they have formed.

“Unfortunately, as we all know too well, these people come and go, and some leave us far too soon,” she said.

Valedictorian Jenna Christiansen underscored the importance of the ceremony.

“As we are walking back to our seats, diploma in hand ... our futures begin,” she said. “The attitudes that we carry with us as we take these first few steps truly do set the stage for the rest of our lives.”

For her speech, salutatorian Meghan Patrick used a Polaroid camera as a prop and took a picture of the class.

“Just like this photo, our time at Apponequet is a brief snapshot in our lives,” she said. “Over the last four years we developed our minds, overcame negative situations and focused on a positive outcome.”

The graduates included Jenya Kim, an exchange student from Kyrgyzstan, who won a scholarship to study in the United States for a year. Apponequet was the school chosen for her to attend.

“This was a great experience,” she said as she prepares to take her diploma and return home in two weeks and study economics at the American University of Central Asia.

Page 2 of 2 - “I’ve made so many friends and now I’m leaving,” Kim said. “I will love to see my family, but I’m leaving so much here.”